First United Pentecostal Church sits on Edgar Brown Drive in Orange, Texas, where it has served the Golden Triangle since the early 1920s. Known locally as First Church, the congregation describes itself as a dynamic, Spirit-filled body that strives to be a 21st Century Apostolic Church. With English and Spanish services, midweek classes for every age, a Christ-centered recovery program, and an active youth and young adult network, First Church is a multi-generational assembly with deep roots in the community.
A Century on Edgar Brown Drive
The Pentecostal fire reached Orange in the late 1920s, when a four-week tent revival led by traveling evangelists set the stage for everything that followed. During the first baptismal service, eleven people were baptized in the Sabine River. In the summer of 1921, the first organized congregation was established under a brush arbor on Division Street. From 1923 to 1926 the small flock met in tents at 602 Border Street, then built the "swayback tabernacle," a tarpaper-roofed, sawdust-floored structure that became known as The Gospel Lighthouse.
A wood-framed building replaced the tarpaper one, and around 1939, under Pastor Rev. Fulton Calvert, the congregation moved into a larger cinder-block and stucco building on the same property. Its lighthouse-like steeple gave the church its enduring nickname.
In 1946 Rev. J.H. Stanton became pastor. Three years later he purchased property at 801 Border Street, where a new church was completed in 1950 and would serve as home for the next twenty-six years. Rev. Timothy Creel pastored from 1956 to 1958 and oversaw the installation of air conditioning. Rev. Fred Foster was elected in 1958 and led a remodel that gave the church a pink-brick face and an annex. In 1959 the parsonage at 452 Gardenia was built. When Foster left in 1963 to become President of Texas Bible College, Rev. and Mrs. W.E. Gamblin were elected to lead.
Gamblin pastored for twenty-seven years. In 1975 the church broke ground on a new home at 3406 Edgar Brown Drive, and the congregation moved into the new building in 1976, opening its doors with burnt orange pews and large crystal chandeliers. Gamblin retired in 1990 and continued to evangelize until age eighty-eight, serving as Pastor Emeritus until he went to be with the Lord in 2005.
Rev. David Fauss was elected in 1990, and in 1995 the interior was redesigned with staircases to the inside sanctuary, new pews, and new carpeting. In the fall of 1998, Rev. and Mrs. Gary Wheeler were called to pastor, and the Wheelers have continued to lead the church since. A 2007 church history and heritage book, available through the church office, preserves the stories of pioneer families and former pastors.
Sunday Worship in English and Spanish
Sunday mornings begin at 10 am with Sunday School, followed by the worship service at 11 am. Pre-service prayer gathers at 10:30 am for those who want to come early. The main service blends Spirit-filled congregational singing and preaching, led by Pastor Gary Wheeler.
At 5 pm on Sundays the building fills again with the Spanish-speaking congregation of Primera Iglesia Unida, led by Neftali and Michelle Luna. The welcome reads, "Le esperamos para que comparta con nosotros la Palabra de Dios y se goce en las Alabanzas! Jesucristo tiene un milagro para su vida!" Spanish-language study materials, including Into His Marvelous Light and A Place Prepared for You, are available in print and online.
Wednesday Classes for Every Age
Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8 pm bring the church's midweek Bible study hour. First Kids gathers children, Impact Student Ministries gathers students ages 12 to 18, and adults gather for Bible study at the same hour. The Wednesday hour also includes Elements Bible Study, a discussion-based course designed for those newer to the faith. Held in the church conference room, Elements runs through four modules of six lessons each, with full-color printed guides and video testimonies, helping participants develop life skills and grow familiar with Apostolic truth through self-discovery.
Tuesdays for Prayer, Fridays and Saturdays for Recovery
Tuesdays at 10 am, the Ladies Prayer Group gathers for prayer, with quarterly luncheons and times of fellowship. Barbara Lyons leads the group.
Fridays from 7 to 8 pm and Saturdays from 7 to 8 pm, Restoration Recovery meets at the church. The Christ-centered, Apostolic program is built on biblical principles and the twelve steps, offering a safe place for people working to overcome various addictions. "Together we CAN recover!" is the program's rallying cry.
First Kids, Impact, and Hyphen
First Kids Ministry is the children's arm of First Church. Working to "train up a child," the team creates an atmosphere where "Kids are VIPs" and where children learn to "Seek Ye 1st the Kingdom." Rev. C.L. and LaDawn Watford lead the ministry, teaching biblical principles in ways designed to capture young attention. The goal is to raise up the next generation as ushers, greeters, worship leaders, department leaders, ministers, and faithful saints.
Impact Student Ministries serves youth ages 12 to 18. Led by Rev. Fred and Twyla Brunner, Impact builds a biblical foundation, connects students to godly fellowship, and encourages involvement in the local assembly. The name says it all: guiding young people to make an impact.
Hyphen is the young adult ministry for singles ages 18 to 30, with a focus on building camaraderie through godly fellowship, and equipping, empowering, and releasing young adults to serve the church and community. Hyphen is part of the broader UPCI Youth Ministries network.
Life Groups: Growing Larger and Smaller
Life Groups are First Church's small-group ministry. The philosophy: "We believe our church must grow larger and smaller at the same time. We grow larger to reach as many people as possible with the life-giving message of Jesus. We gather in small groups to build community and love for each other." Modeled on the early church in Acts 2:42 and 5:42, the groups meet in spring and fall semesters.
Current groups include 3:16 Bible Study and Fellowship, led by Ric and Issa Garcia, meeting Friday evenings; Anchored Man, a men's group led by Dustin Williams and Peyton Logsdon; Hyphen Ministries, led by Epifanio Munguia; Ladies Prayer, led by Barbara Lyons, Tuesdays at 10 am; No Pressure Media, for those interested in church media, led by Twyla Brunner and John Coleman; Quiet Pages, a readers' group led by Fred Brunner; Redeemed, for those transformed by Jesus, led by Chris and Lisha Ellis; Self-Care and Sass, a women's monthly recharge group led by Lauren Willis; Spiritual Activities, a games-and-fellowship group led by Jaaron McManus; Walking in His Mercies, an active group that grows together in Christ, led by Brandee Meguess and Carley Thomas; Unto Him, the shut-in ministry led by Kendall and Tommye Pierce; and Young at Heart, the 55+ ministry, also led by Kendall and Tommye Pierce.
Worship, Outreach, and First Impressions
Worshipful music is central to First Church. The music ministry, coordinated by Rebekah Foster, brings together musicians and vocalists who endeavor to usher the presence of God into each service. The Praising Hands Sign Team ministers through interpretive sign language and drama. Visitors do not have to be Pentecostal to worship here; the invitation is to "plug in to the power of genuine worship in any way you feel comfortable."
First Impressions is the friendly-face ministry. Greeters and ushers work to make First Church "the friendliest church in Orange." Head Usher Phillip Williams coordinates the usher team schedule, assigns duties, and trains the team to be the best they can be.
Reapers Outreach, led by Bro. Riq and Sis. Issa Garcia, directs the church's evangelism and community outreach, seeking to minister to the needs of the community with love and compassion.
Apostolic Beliefs
First Church holds to the historic Apostolic faith. The Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God, and the church embraces the great commission, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with love, mercy, and compassion.
There is one God, who has revealed Himself to humanity as the Father (Creator), as the Son (Savior), and as the Holy Ghost (indwelling Spirit), rooted in Deuteronomy 6:4. The church practices water baptism by immersion in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sin, identifying believers with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38).
First Church teaches the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial sign of speaking in other tongues (Acts 2:4), and the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit - tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy, words of knowledge and wisdom, discerning of spirits, faith, working of miracles, healing, helps, and government (2 Corinthians 12:1-11).
The church looks for the return of Jesus Christ to catch away His church, and affirms a final resurrection and final judgment. The righteous will inherit eternal life; the unrighteous will inherit eternal death (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; Revelation 20:10-15).
Pastors and Ministry Leaders
Rev. Gary P. Wheeler is the pastor. Born and raised in Houston, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Bethel Tabernacle in Houston at age fifteen, graduated from Texas Bible College in 1980, and spent years in evangelistic revival campaigns across the United States. In 1986 he was elected to pastor the congregation in Carthage, Texas, where he served for twelve years before being elected to First Church of Orange in the fall of 1998. He has served the Texas District United Pentecostal Church as Sectional Youth Director, Sectional Home Missions Director, and Sectional Secretary. He and his wife Linda have three sons - Nathaniel, Jonathan, and Hayden - and five grandchildren, to whom they are known as PaPa and Nana.
Sis. Linda Wheeler serves as First Lady and leads the First Ladies Ministry. Rev. C.L. and LaDawn Watford serve as Kid's Pastor and Pastoral Support, leading First Kids Ministry. Rev. Fred and Twyla Brunner lead Impact Student Ministries and provide Pastoral Support; Fred also teaches in the adult Bible Study and preaches in the regular rotation. Rebekah Foster coordinates the music ministry and praise teams. Bro. Riq and Sis. Issa Garcia direct Reapers Outreach. Neftali and Michelle Luna lead Primera Iglesia Unida. Barbara Lyons leads the Ladies Prayer Group. Phillip Williams serves as Head Usher.
Sermons and Bible Study Resources
First Church maintains an extensive archive of video and audio sermons. Recent video series include "Church Problems God's Answers," a multi-part teaching by Pastor Wheeler; "Rekindling the Fire in Your Heart"; "Slaying the Dragon of Fear"; and "Money Matters." Guest ministers such as Rev. Shelby Suire, Rev. Jonathan Whittemore, Rev. Fred Brunner, Rev. Jeff Story, Rev. Bobby Edwards, Rev. Mark Foster, Rev. Robert Martin, Rev. Collin Bryant, Rev. Ethan Logsdon, Rev. Fred Childs, Bro. Ric Garcia, and others also preach in the rotation.
A full menu of downloadable Bible study materials is available in print-ready PDF form. Studies include A Place Prepared for You (English and Spanish), Beyond Belief, the City of the Living God series on the Holy Ghost and Water Baptism, Into His Marvelous Light (KJV, NIV, and Spanish), the twelve-lesson Search for Truth 2 series with charts, study guides, and quizzes, The Gospel as Easy as 1, 2, 3, and the Wheel of Prophecy study.
A weekly newsletter called The Weekly Connect lists upcoming events, and a Breeze church management portal supports the office. Giving is available online through Clover Give. Active Facebook and YouTube channels carry additional content, including sermon video and audio, weekly bulletins, and a media request form.
Visiting First Church
First Church is located at 3406 Edgar Brown Drive in Orange, Texas. The office is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm, and the church phone number is (409) 883-3813. Sunday morning visitors are invited to come for Sunday School at 10 am and stay for the worship service at 11 am. Primera Iglesia Unida meets at 5 pm Sundays for Spanish-speaking worship. Wednesday nights at 7 pm offer classes for all ages. The motto that runs through the church is simple: Love, Grow, Serve, Go - Love People, Grow in Faith, Serve Others, Go Change the World.